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Summary
A child experienced seizures and cardiac arrest after ingesting 100 Bendectin tablets. High levels of doxylamine succinate, an antihistamine, were identified as the likely toxic agent in this overdose case.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Pharmacology
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Bendectin, a medication historically used for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, contains doxylamine succinate, dicyclomine, and pyridoxine.
- Overdose cases involving Bendectin are rare, necessitating detailed toxicological investigation.
Observation:
- A three-year-old male presented with tonic-clonic seizures and subsequent cardiac arrest after ingesting approximately 100 Bendectin tablets.
- Postmortem toxicologic analysis revealed significantly elevated concentrations of doxylamine, dicyclomine, and pyridoxine.
Findings:
- The antihistamine component, doxylamine succinate, was identified as the primary toxic agent responsible for the adverse events.
- High levels of doxylamine were detected in blood, peritoneal fluid, and tissue homogenates, confirming systemic toxicity.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential toxicity of doxylamine succinate in massive overdose scenarios.
- The findings underscore the importance of prompt toxicologic analysis and supportive care in pediatric overdose emergencies.
- Accurate analytical methods are crucial for documenting and understanding the toxicological profile of ingested substances.